Locking device



R. W. LAING LOCKING DEVICE Nov. 1, 193

Filed March 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Shem l amen 11m 7?. M44407;

Nov. 1, 193$. R W A N 2,134,922

LOCKING DEVICE Filed March 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1,1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to locking mechanisms and morespecifically to means for temporarily preventing access to the standardlatches or locks on doors.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a lockingdevice for use by fumigators to prevent all persons from entering a roomcontaining poisonous gases. It may be used, if desired, in connectionwith danger signs, but when it is used, it is unnecessary to rely uponsigns and the collecting of all keys as at present.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking means that isquickly and easily at tachable to doors having a latching mechanism butno locking mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is the pro-vision of a device ofthis character that can be used in combination with various types andsizes of standard door latching and locking mechanisms,

Other and more limited objects of the invention will be apparent fromthe following specification and the accompanying drawings forming a partthereof wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention showing itin use; Fig. 2 is a central vertical section thru one form of myinvention; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 isa horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2 showing my device applied to a door having a differenttype of latching mechanism and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2showing one way of applying my invention to a door having only a lockingmechanism thereon.

Referring to the drawings by reference character, l indicates a door, 2the door jamb and 3 the latching and locking mechanism. The latch- 40ing and locking mechanism 3 is of any well known standard constructionhaving the usual latching bolt 4, which is spring pressed intoengagement with the keeper 5 when the door is closed, and the keyoperated locking bolt 6. The latching bolt 4 is withdrawn from thekeeper 5 by turning the knob I. All of the structure just described maybe of any well known construction.

My invention consists generally of a box like cover ii, which is placedagainst the door I in such manner as to completely enclose theaccessible parts of the latching and locking mechanism 3; and a lockingand retaining means III for securely holding the cover 8 in position.

The cover 8 comprises a bottom wall II and side walls l2 formed integraltherewith and pro-- jects outwardly therefrom. While the cover 8 may bemade of any desired size I prefer to make it fairly large so that it maybe used to cover latching and locking mechanism of various shapes andsizes. The bottom wall H has a plurality of pairs of apertures I3therein, for a purpose to be described hereafter.

The locking and retaining means In shown in Figs. 1 to a inclusiveconsists of a short length of chain M and a standard bicycle type oflock comprising a lock proper l5, and a U-shaped element it having theusual notches I! in legs [6 thereof.

In operation the chain I4 is wrapped around the reduced shank i of theknob 1 and the U-shaped element I6 is inserted thru links adjacent eachend of the chain. The cover 8 is then placed against the door in such amanner as to completely enclose all accessible parts of the latching andlocking mechanism and the legs 16* of the U-shaped element l6 areprojected outwardly thru one pair of apertures lit. The lock proper I5is then locked into the position shown, tightly engaging the legs Is ofthe U-shaped element It, and the cover 8, thus preventing access to thelatching and locking mechanism 3 and making it impossible for anyone nothaving a key to lock I5 to open the door I. Having a plurality of pairsof apertures l3 in the bottom wall H of the cover 2 makes it possible toeasily accommodate the cover to various different types and sizes oflatching and locking mechanisms as desired.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a difierent type of latching mechanism. In thisform the chain I4 is dispensed with and the U-shaped element engages thebail l8 of the latching mechanism.

In Fig. 6 I have shown my device applied to a door having no latchingmechanism and a looking mechanism having no projecting parts to whichthe cover locking and retaining mechanism in may be secured. Ininstances of this kind an eye bolt I9 is screwed into the door and theU-shaped element I6 is inserted thru the eye 20 thereof.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have developed a verysimple, cheap, and efficient device for accomplishing the objects of myinvention.

It is to be understood that I do not intend to restrict my invention tothe specific construction and application shown and described herein, asvarious modifications and applications thereof are possible within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:-

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a cover,having bottom and side walls, for completely enclosing the latchingmechanism on a door, apertures in the bottom wall of said cover, a chainsecured to the latching mechanism within the confines of said cover, aU- shaped element inserted thru links of said chain and extendingoutwardly thru said apertures, and a lock engaging said U-shaped elementand said cover for holding said cover in place and preventing access tothe latching mechanism.

2. In a device of the character described the combination of a coverhaving bottom and side walls for completely enclosing the latchingmechanism on a door, apertures in the bottom wall of said cover, afiexible member secured to the latching mechanism within the confines ofsaid cover, a U-shaped element engaging the flexible member and havingthe legs thereof extending outwardly through said apertures, a lockengaging the outwardly extending legs of said U shaped element and saidcover for holding said cover in place and preventing access to thelatching mechanism.

3. In a device of the character described the combination of a coverhaving bottom and side Walls for completely enclosing the latchingmechanism on a door, aperture means in the bottom wall of said cover, aflexible member secured to the latching mechanism within the confines ofsaid cover, means engaging the flexible member and extending outwardlythrough said aperture means, a lock engaging the outwardly extendingportion of said means and said last mentioned cover for holding saidcover in place and preventing access to the latching mechanism.

4. In a device for temporarily preventing access to the latchingmechanism on a door, the combination of a cover for completely enclosingthe latching mechanism thereof, said cover being of such size and shapeas to be applicable to various types and sizes of latching mechanismsand com prising side walls, and a bottom wall having a plurality ofspaced aperture means therein, a flexible element secured to thelatching mechanism within the confines of said cover, means engagingsaid flexible element and extending outwardly through one of saidaperture means, and a lock engaging the outwardly extending portion ofsaid means and said last mentioned cover for holding said cover in placeagainst the door and around the latching mechanism.

5. In a device for temporarily preventing access to the latchingmechanism on a door, the combination of a cover for completely enclosingthe latching mechanism thereof, the said cover being of such size andshape as to be applicable to various types and sizes of latchingmechanisms and comprising side walls, and a bottom wall having aplurality of spaced aperture means therein, means secured to mechanismon the door Within the confines of said cover and extending outwardlythru one of said aperture means, and a lock ongaging the outwardlyextending portion of said means and said cover for holding said cover inplace against the door and around the latching mechanism.

6. In a device for temporarily preventing access to the latchingmechanism on a door, the combination of a cover for completely enclosingthe latching mechanism. thereof, the said cover being of such a size andshape as to be applicable to various types and sizes of latchingmechanisms and comprising s de walls, and a bottom wall having aplurality of pairs of apertures therein, a U-shaped element engagingmechanism on the door within the confines of said cover and having thelegs thereof extending outwardly thru one of said. pairs of apertures,and a lock engaging the outwardly extending legs of said element andsaid cover for holding said cover in place against the door and aroundthe latching mechanism.

ROBERT W. LAING.

